Latin America and the Caribbean each year lose 4,7 million hectares of forestland, a consultant with the UN Environment Program said on Monday.
He spoke at the 16th Meeting of the Forum of Environment Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean, which is being held in Santo Domingo through Friday.
Meanwhile, Malaysia unveiled a 32,4 billion US dollar development plan on Tuesday for its eastern state of Sabah, on Borneo Island.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave no spending details in unveiling the 18-year plan in Sabah, but he is putting economic development on top of his agenda. Sabah still holds vast tracts of pristine rainforest.
